The Devil’s Advocate
BY: RAY LANTHIER
Jul 26, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Radhapriya devi dasi ought to be very pleased with her nicely crafted piece of ISKCON spin-doctoring, "In Defense of COP and Tamohar Prabhu. So many organizations troubled with public litigation, like the Catholic Church or the KKK, could use her considerable skills. What is fascinating about her document is that it presents a wonderful paradigm of all the symptoms that support authoritarian corruption and ought to be textbook material for that reason (possibly in the Bhaktivedanta Institute?)
Her ability to make unsupported sanctimonious a priori pronouncements in defense of the principals such as Tamohar Prabhu has few parallels. We are simply told that people just don’t understand the burden the prabhu is under and how he is trying his best “to serve the children.”
We must make many allowances and accommodate the distinguished Director with forgiveness and forbearance, because after all - wait for it - he is a Vaisnava. That claim is always the centerpiece of ISKCON apologetics and must go unquestioned. We must tread carefully because we are on holy ground and we might commit “the wild Elephant offense.”
The children, I take it, do not hold such an exalted position and are not the ones to whom so much consideration is due. I get it now, and I grieve for all the trouble the molestation and abuse has caused the esteemed Director in having to deal with such inconveniences.
One is almost persuaded with the strong implication that it is Tamohar Prabhu who is the victim. It sets up the strategic conclusion that must put all victims’ mind at ease -
"The case against Gauri Prabhu the Temple President of the Manor took some time in order to gather all the relevant information, but as soon as a sound case was developed he was adjudicated on in a fair and very just manner.”
The disposition of the case is as 'beyond doubt' as is the spiritual stature of ISKCON and its authorities which is, of course, blameless - n’est-ce pas?
We are deftly prepared for the delicacy of a classic ‘blame the victim’ argument.
"Many Gurukulis have suffered unnecessarily in their youth and much of that suffering was brought about by their lack of understanding of our philosophy.”
Very good, Radhapriya devi dasi! A triumphant touch!
And the injuries of the victims are smoothed over by philosophical advice she so mercifully imparts -
"We must all learn to heal in this life the reactions of our past and in doing so, move ahead sure in the faith that a lesson learned is a lesson we will never face again.”
We all hope, as do the parents of these unfortunates, that the abuse and molestation has taught them a valuable lesson. Would that we all could be extended such mercy. After all, these innocents are also ignorant - they don’t have a grasp of the real issues and that intelligence probably got even more clouded when their little bodies were beaten and/or raped.
But Radhapriya devi dasi proves herself the uttama adhikari of corrupt corporate defense.
She does not miss the ‘coup de grace’ in telling us and the victims ‘to move on”. Let’s not trouble our minds, the CPO, and most importantly ISKCON, with such ‘petty squabbles’. This exhortation has been echoed by all the authoritarian representatives of abusive hierarchies throughout history - Move on, let go of the past - we can show you how - act like it never happened.
The cherry on the apologetic cake is -
"How many Gurukulis have written in and thanked him for his tireless support of their cause? Not many, I would imagine.”
I have to confess, I couldn’t help myself - I doubled over laughing. Yes Radhapriya devi dasi, you imagine correctly - considering how completely out of touch with reality and common decency you and ISKCON prove to be. But it gets better.
She is able to muster the sanctimonious nerve to admonish these ungrateful victims.
"So this needs to change. We need to be more thankful and appreciative as devotees for the hard work and dedication of our seniors.”
If this were a satiric piece, it would have won a Pulitzer prize. As it is, it wins the prize for the most insensitive, shameless, corrupt piece of organizational self-righteous spin-doctoring since Nixon's "I am not a crook".
